James Ryan traces the fortunes of two schools in Richmond, Virginia¿one suburban, relatively affluent, and mostly white, and the other urban, relatively poor, and mostly black. Drawing on compelling interviews with students, teachers, and principals, including one who has been a principal at both schools, Ryan explains how certain policies¿school finance, school choice, and standardized testing¿not only fail to bridge the performance gap between students at urbanand suburban schools but actually perpetuate segregation across the country.